“I know for a fact we are the only club to have agreed fees with Tottenham because they have kept us updated with what is going on.

“So it is very strange to find out that other managers are speaking to these players.

“As far as I understand it, you only speak to a player when you’ve agreed a fee with his club and been given permission to speak to him.”

I cracked up while reading this. On one hand, can a manager not know how frequently players and players’ agents are in contact with other clubs? On the other hand, if Keane has principles, more power to him and I hope we see more managers picking up on it (doubt that though).

And in other news… Sunderland are hoping to get a definitive answer from Malbranque and Kaboul in the next 24 hours. It’s worth noting that in all his answers this summer Keane has not named any players that Sunderland have been after until he’s got them signed and by his side. Top stuff.

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3 Comments

Jimmy29 July, 2008

Keane is spot on if the receiving club accepts a bid then you can speak to that player and talk about the player in the media. Those are the rules.

Bob Houghton29 July, 2008

Are you talking about transfer listed players? Surely your not allowed to just talk to any contracted player with a view to signing him …. That’s called tapping up!! With or without the clubs knowledge.
Roy Keane is a man of principles and other Premier League managers shouild take a leaf from his book.
Not once did any Sunderland player complain to the ref following a freekick/penalty decision last season Why ? because Roy said not to

jimbob30 July, 2008

Remember that Pompey tried to sign him last time when he went to Tottenham, when Harry talks about sitting down with the lad and his parents he’s possibly talking about last time not this. The rest is media and agent hype. Harry has never said he has spoken to the boy and he is coming, he’s said he’s 3rd in the race to sign him, that’s all